What a Shame
America has a shameful little secret. In this country that prides itself in being at the forefront of world culture there is virtually no such thing as a professional artist, someone who makes their living through their creative output. Oh, sure there are a few. The cultural icons, superstars that have the high profile museum shows and grace the glossy covers of the prestigious, New York based art magazines. There is a tipping point where these personalities become known primarily for their celebrity rather than their art. However, the number of these high earners is statistically insignificant. Almost all the rest have to supplement their incomes by other means in order to support a decent life. Style. Most artists do not earn as much as the people that deliver their mail, take out their trash or unstop their toilets.
Artists utilize many strategies for getting by. The best off all is the wise hereditary gambit: selecting wealthy parents. As alluring as this approach is, it is mostly adopted by gallery owners, not artists.
The marriage strategy is very popular. Even though our society is becoming less sexist, wedding someone with a steady job is still mostly a feminine prerogative. One full time, male painter recently told me that where ever you find someone doing what they want, someone else is paying the price. He was referring to his hardworking, understanding wife.
The most common job for artists is teaching. This seems a great solution. There is much to be said for a steady pay check, health care and pension plans. However, this largess often comes at a great cost. Instead of seeing teaching as a roundabout but welcome form of subsidization of the arts, many art teachers get involved with their task and at the end of the day have been drained by their students. I have found over the years that the artists that teach tend to mature creatively more slowly than full time artists. It is difficult to sustain creative momentum painting mostly during long weekends and summers.
Many artists are able to find art related jobs; framing, delivering art, working as gallery assistants or doing installation work for museums. Other options are dog walker, waitress, taxi driver, translator, book editor, blood donor, carpenter… the list is endless.
The last time I met a painter paying his own health insurance, college tuition for two children, maintaining mortgage payments and driving a late model car, he was two days late painting my kitchen.
SSSh!